Electric relay.



w. c. NEAHR.

ELECTRIC RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 3, I915.

Patented June 20, 1916.

a smears-sugar 1.

E. m Wum/ \g g 3 ATTORNEY.

W. C. NEAHR.

ammo new.

APPLICATION FILED FEB- 3; |9|5-' 1 ,187,768. Patented June 20, 1916.

3 SHEET5$HEET 3- fig-7 I o 1 WITNESSES: IN V EN TOR.

Z44 /1C. A/eafin zyZiZZ; I

ATTORNEY.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILL C. NEAHR, 01? DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE PROTECTIVE SIGNAL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF COLORADO.

ELECTRIC RELAY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed February a, 1915. Serial No. 5,902.

type which when a circuit in which it is connected is opened or closed at another point, will automatically maintain an electric device with which it is electrically associated, in operation during a predetermined period.

Another object of my invention is to provide in an instrument of the character mentioned, means which, when it is desired to discontinue the-operation of the electric device with which it is associated, before the predetermined period of its energization has expired, will after the relay circuit has been opened and closed at another point, cause the device to remain in inactive condition, while the relay completes its cyclic operation.

An embodiment of my invention has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings in the various views of which like parts are similarly designated, and in which,

Figure 1 is a face view of the improved electric relay, Fig. 2, a side elevation of.

the same looking in the direction of the arrow A, Fig. 1, Fig. 3, an interior view of the kick wheel comprised in my invention, Fig. 4, a section taken along the line 4-4, Fig. 1, Fig. 5, a section taken along the line 5-5, Fig. 1, and Figs. 6, 7 and 8, diagrammatic views showing the relay operatively connected in circuits for the operation of the electric device whose period of energization it controls.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the operating mechanism of the relay instrument is assembled upon the back 2 of a dust-proof casing, the front and sides of which are preferably composed of glass.

In the construction illustrated in the drawings, thefront of the casing consists of a metal frame 3 in which is set a circular plate of glass 4, and its side wall is composed of a glass cylinder 5 the edges of which are set 1n grooves in the inner surfaces of the frame 3 and the back 2 of the p operation casing, the different parts being rigidly held in place'by means of bolts 6 which extend through lugs on the front of the casing into threaded apertures in the back of the same. The operating mechanism of the relay consists of an electro-magnet composed of a palr of coils 7 and an .armature 8 which is pivoted for vibrative movement, as at 9.

The armature consists of a bar which .carries a contact spring 12 which at one of its ends is fixed in insulated relation to the bar adjacent'the pivot of the same. The armature carries at its end opposite to that at which the contact is disposed, a double-pointed pallet 13 which by means of a coiled spring l lis held in engagement with a square -toothed ratchet wheel 15 which is rotatably mounted on a stud on the back of the casing.

When the parts are in their position of rest, illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the armature engages with the free end of its contact spring, a toe 16 which projects laterally from a spring-controlled wheel 17 which in the following part of the description will be referred to as the kick-wheel. This wheel consists of a hollow disk composed of a pair of complementary members 18 and 19 which are secured together by means of screws 20 one of which also serves to secure the toe 16. The wheel is mounted for rotation on a. shaft 21 which projects from the back of the casing and it is held against lateral displacement by means of a collar 22. Disposed within the wheel, is a spiral spring 23 wound clock-wise and attached at its ends to the shaft and to the wheel at a point adjacent its periphery. A resilient stop 24 which is shown in detail in Fig. 4 of the drawings, serves to support the armature at its opposite end and in the of the instrument, provides a cushion which mitigates the impact of the armature during its movement away from the magnet coils. Mounted for synchronous movement with the hereinbefore mentioned ratchet wheel, is a segmental pinion 25 the teeth of which mesh with those of a gear wheel 26which hereinafter will be referred to as the time-wheel of the instrument.

The wheel is rotatably mounted upon a two circuit breaking devices which are mounted in insulated relation upon a block 28 on the hack of the casing.

wheel. The two circuit-breaking devices shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings have been designated respectively by the numerals 29 and 30 and their respective brushes which project in the path of the cams 27, by the numerals 31 and 32. A pawl 33 and a detent 34 are mounted to engage respectively the teeth of the ratchet wheel and the cogs of the gear-wheel to prevent their retrograde movement.

The circuit controlling device 29 controls a circuit separate from that in which the electro-magnet of the relay instrument is connected, as will hereinafter be more fully explained, and the other circuit breaker 30 is provided to control the circuit of the element hereinbefore referred to, which after the operation of the electric device con? trolled by the relay, has been discontinued before the expiration of its predetermined period of energization, by opening the circuits in which the relay is connected, compels the said device to remain inactive while after the circuit has again been closed, the relay mechanism completes its cyclic operation.

an electro-magnet which is mounted on the back of the casing and which is composed of a single coil 35 and an armature 36 which is pivotally mounted for vibrative motion at the end of a bar 92. A spring 93 yieldingly maintains the armature in its normal position in which it is separated from the magnet core. v

The armature 36 carries two resilient contact brushes 37 and 38 in insulated relation to each other, and the shaft of the kick wheel supports at its extremity a laterally extending contact bar 39 which is disposed to be engaged'by the ends of the two brushes when the armature is moved toward the magnet core by magnetization of its coil.

The different elements of my invention which in the operation of the instrument, act as conductors of electricity, are insulated from the casing by interposed pieces of nonconductive material which need no description, the parts of the mechanism which are in direct electric communication with each other are connected by wires which appear in the diagrammatic representation but have been omitted in the otherviews of the drawings to avoid confusion, and the instru- The element above referred to consists of the cam or whatever other device may the back of the casing, in electrical connectlon w1th the elements of the mechanism within the same.

The instrument in its simplest form, operates to intermittently actuate by means of the cams on the time-wheel, a circuit-breaking device to reverse the normal condition of the circuit controlled by said device, during a determinate period. When a normally open circuit in which the magnet of the relay instrument is connected, is closed at another point, the energization of the magnet will cause the armature to be attracted to its core.

The armature 8 and the toe on the kick wheel which when the instrument is in its normal condition of rest is engaged by the contact spring 12 of the armature, are connected at opposite sides of a break in the magnet circuit and when by the energization of the magnet, the armature is actuated, its sudden downward motion will impart an impulse to the kick-wheel which in consequence is moved about its axis of rotation against the action of the coiled spring 23. As a result of this movement, the contact between the armature and the toe 16 is broken and the magnet is in consequence deenergized until by the reaction of the spring, the movement of the wheel is re- 'point at which it was originally completed,

the magnet will be alternately opened and closed and the armature will in consequence slowly vibrate. The vibrative movement of the armature imparts through the instrumentality of the pallet 13,.an intermittent, rotary motion to the ratchet wheel to feed the same one tooth at each impulse of the armature. The locking action of the pallet insures the uniformity of the intermittent movements of the ratchet wheel, the resilient stop 24 yieldingly limits the movement of the armature when it is engaged by the toe during the rebound of the kick wheel, and the pawl 33 prevents retrograde move ment of the ratchet wheel. The movement of the ratchet wheel is through the medium of the segment-pinion, periodically transmitted to the time wheel-which in turn imparts an intermittent rotary movement to be provided to actuate a circuit-breaker placed in the path thereof.

Referring to Fig. 8 of the drawings which illustrates the electrical connections between the relay instrument in its simplest form, and an electric device controlled by the indevice above mentioned, 42 a separate source of electricity for themagnet 7, and 43 an electric switch in the magnet circuit, which includes the cam 27. The cam inthis construction'is formed. to maintain the circuit breaker 44, a brush 45 of which is disposed in its path, in a closed condition during a part of its rotary movement, and in an open condition during the remainder of its movement.

\Vhen the magnet circuit is closed in the switch 43, the magnet energized by a flow of current which beginning at the source 42, includes the conductors 46, 47 and 48, the member 45 of the circuit breaker, the conductor 49, the toe 16 of the kick whee the armature 8, the magnet windings 7 and the conductor 50 which connects with the opposite pole of the source. After the circuit has been closed for a short time in the switch 43, the cam by engagement with the brush 45 closes the circuit breaker 44 and thereby closes the circuit of the alarm 41 which includes, beginning at the source of electricity 40, a conductor 51, the circuit breaker 44, a conductor 52, the operating mechanism of the alarm, and a conductor 53 which connects with the opposite pole of the source.

By reason of the engagement of the cam with the brush 45, the relay will remain in operation after the magnet circuit is again broken in the switch, by a flow of current from the source 42 along the conductor 46 through the wiper 27 and the brush 45 of the circuit breaker, to the conductor 49, the toe 16 of the kick wheel, the armature 8, the magnet windings. and the conductor 50.

The alarm will thus" remain in operation as long as the circuit breaker 44 is closed by the action of .the cam, and as soon as the latter releases thebrush 45, the parts are again in their original positions. While in this manner the relay instrument maybe used to control the operation of different electrical devices, it is more particularly designed for use in an electric system in which the circuit of an alarm is opened and closed through the action of another relay which is connected in the main circuit, such as is described in my application for patent Serial No. 795,041, filed October 14, 1913. The connections of the relay instrument in a system of this character is illustrated diagrammatically in Fig. 7 of the drawings in which the numeral 54 designates a source of electricitv, 55 a relay including contacts 56, 57 and 58 and brushes 59 and 60, 61 the alarm, and 62 a switch controlling the relay circuit which is normally in a closed condition. The relay circuit includes, beginning at the source of electricity, the conductor 63 in which the switch 62 is connected, the wind ings of the relay magnet, a conductor 64, the contact 56 and the brush 59 which when the magnet is energized, are in engagement, and the conductor 65 of the main circuit which connects with the opposite pole of the source. When the relay circuit is opened in the switch 62, the consequent deenergization of the relay magnet, causes the brush 59 to disengage the contact 56 and engage and the conductor 65 which connects with the opposite poleof the source. The circuit of the electric alarm is at the same time closed and the latter energized by a flow of current along a course which beginning at the source includes a conductor 69, the operating mechanism of the alarm, a conductor 70, the contact 57 and the brush 59 of the relay 55, and the conductor 65 which connects with the opposite pole of the source. After theswitch 62 is again moved to the closed position, the magnet of the relay 55 must naturally remain in a deenergized condition until its stick brush 59 is picked up by the closing of another circuit which beginning at the source includes the conductor 63, the coils of the relay 55, the conductor 64, a conductor 71, the circuit breaker 29, a conductor 72, the conductor 68, the contact 58 and the brush 60 of the relay 55, and the conductor 65 which connects with the opposite pole of the source. This circuit is closed when the cam 27 which is intermittently rotated in the direction of the arrow by the yibrative movement of the armature 8 as hereinbefore explained, engages the brush 31 when the armature of the relay 55 is again attracted to the core of, the same and the brushes connected therewith are consequently returned to their normal position as shown in the drawings.

The operation of the alarm is 1n consequence discontinued. but the relay instru- 'ment will remain in operation until the connections which include the element which after the operation of the alarm has been discontinued before the expiration of the predetermined time of its energization, by opening the main circuit at another point, will compel it to remain inactive while, after the circuit has again been closed at the said point, the time-relay completes its cycle of operations. The electrical connections between the source, the magnet of the relay, the alarm and the circuit breaker 29, are in many respects the same as those shown in Fig. 7 but to avoid confusion they have been designated by different reference numerals. The coils of the relay 55 are normally energized by a current passing through its local circuit along the following course; beginning at the source of electricity, the conductor 74 including the normally closed switch (32, the windings of the relay magnet, the conductor 75, the contact 56 and the brush 59, and the conductor 78 of the main circuit which connects with the opposite pole of the source. The relay 55 in its energized condition closes its own local circuit at the point at which it is connected therein, by'the engagement of the brush 59 with the contact 56, and it opens the main circuit at the same point, by reason of the separated position of the brush 60 with relation to the contact 58. When'by means of the switch (32 the relay circuit as outlined hereinabove, is broken, the movement imparted to the relay armature as a result of the dei nergization of the relay coils, closes the main circuit, and the magnet 7 of the time relay is in consequence energized by the flow of current along a circuit which, beginning at the source of electricity, in-

cludes a conductor 79, the toe 16 of the kick wheel which is normally engaged by the contact spring of the armature 8, the conductor 80 which connects the armature with the magnet coils, the magnet windings and the conductor 81 which connects the armature coils with the opposite pole of the source and which is normally broken in the relay by the separated condition of the brush 60 and the contact 58. The vibrative movement imparted to the armature S by energization of the magnet, imparts as hereinbefore explained, an intermittent rotary motion to the cam in counter-cloclnvise direction.

When the cam is in its normal position, one of its points is positioned between the brushes of the two circuit-breakers 29 and- 30, disposed in its path, so that as a result of the first movement imparted to the cam, the circuit breaker 30 whose brush 32 extends forwardly of the cam-point with relation to the direction of its rotary movement, will be moved into engagement with its correlative brush.

The closing of the circuit-breaker energizes the coil 35 by a flow of electricity in a circuit which commencing at the source of electricity, includes the conductor 79 which connects with the toe 16 of the kick wheel, a conductor 82, the circuit breaker 30, a conductor 83, which connects with the brush 37 on the armature 36, the coil 35, a conductor 84, a conductor 81, the contact 58 and the brush 60- of the relay 55, and the conductor 78 which connects with the opposite pole of the source.

By engagement of the brush 37 of the magnet 35 with the contact bar 39 the local circuit of the coil is also closed outside of the circuit breaker 30 by the current flowing along the following course; beginning at the source, the conductor 79 connecting with the toe 16 on the kick wheel, the contact bar 39, the brush 37, the conductor 83, a conductor 85, the coil 35, the conductor 84, the conductor 81, the contact 58, and the brush 60 of the relay 55 and theronductor 7 8 which connects with the opposite pole of the source. It will thus be seen that the coil 35 will remain energized after the cam point has disengaged the member 32 ot' the circuit breaker 30 and the latter has been reopened in consequence.

When the coil 35 was energized, the circuit in which the alarm 61 is connected was closed. This circuit beginning at the source,

- includes a conductor 86, the operating mechanism ot the alarm, a conductor 87, the brush 38 of the magnet 35, the contact bar 39 which is in continuous electrical connection with the toe 16 on the kick wheel and the conductor 79 which connects with the opposite pole of the source. The engagement of the brush 60 of the relay 55 with the contact 58 closes the main circuit so that after the instrument is energized as hereinbeiore explained, it remains in operation independent of the condition of the switch (32, until its mechanism has completed its cyclic operation.

When in the rotary movement of the time wheel the cam is brought in engagement with the brush 31 of the circuit breaker 29, it closes a circuit of the relay 55 which beginning at the source of electricity, includes the conductor 74, the windings of the relay 55, the conductor 75, a. conductor 90, the circuit closer 29, a conductor 89,1the conductor 81, the contact 58 and the brush 60 of the relay 55 and the conductor 78 which connects with the opposite source of the pole 54.

The brushes 59 and 60 of the relay 55 are in consequence returned to their original position and the circuits of the electric magnet of the time relay and of the alarm 61 are broken as before. As long, however, as the cam remains in contact with the brush 31,the instrumentwill continue its operation by a flow of current along the following course; beginning atthe source 54, a conductor 88, the cam 27, the brush 31, the conductor 89,

the windings of the magnet 7, the conductor 80, the armature S, the toe 16 of the kick wheel, and the conductor 7 9 which connects with the opposite pole of the source, and the cam and the other parts of the operating mechanism of the relay are thus returned to their original position.

If it is desired to discontinue the opera tion of the alarm before the termination of the predetermined period of its energization, controlled by the cycle of operation of the relay instrument, the main circuit is opened and closed at a convenient point.

The opening of the circuit deenergizes the magnet 7 aswell as the magnet 35. Deenergization of the latter causes the brushes 37 and 38 to disengage the contact bar 39, with the result that the circuit of the alarm 61 is opened and the operation of the latter is discontinued.

Now, if the main circuit is again closed at the point at which it is opened, the magnet 7 is again energized, but the magnet 35 will not receive any current until the cam again engages the brush 32 of the circuit breaker 30. The result is that the time relay will complete its cycle while the alarm (31 remains inactive.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In combination, an electro-magnet including a reciprocating armature, a make and-break appliance in the magnet-circuit, of which the armature is the actuative part, a circuit-breaker intermittently operated by the armature movement, a relay controlling the magnet-circuit, and an electric device in a circuit controlled by said relay.

2. In combination, an electro-magnet including a reciprocating armature, a makeand-break appliance in the magnet-circuit, of which the armature is the actuative part, a circuit-breaker intermittently operated by the armature movement, arelay which is connected in a normally closed circuit and in a circuit controlled by said circuit-breaker, and which controls the magnet circuit, and an electric device in a circuit controlled by 'action of said electro-magnet.

3. In combination, an electro-magnet ineluding a reciprocating armature, a makeand-break appliance in the magnet-circuit, of which the armature is the actuative part, a circuit-ln-eaker, a member actuated by the armature movement and intermittently operating the circuit breaker, a relay which is connected in a normally closed circuit and in a circuit controlled by said circuit-breaker, and which controls the magnet circuit, and an electric device in a circuit controlled by action of said electro-magnet, the said member and a conductive part of the said circuitbreaker engagedthereby, being connected in a circuit to complete the magnet-circuit outside the relay, after the relay has been reenergized by the action of the circuitbreaker.

4. In combination, a. relay in a normally closed circuit, an electric device in a circuit,

and a cycle electro-magnetic instrument in a circuit controlled by the relay, which closes the circuit of the said devlce during a predetermined period after the relay-circuit has been opened, and reencrgizes the relay at the tern'iination of the said period.

5. In combination, an electro-magnet including a reciprocating armature, a makeand-break appliance in the magnet-circuit, of which the armature is the actuative part, two circuit-breakers intermittently and separately operated by the armature movement, a relay connected in a circuit controlled by one of said circuit-breakers, and controlling the magnet-circuit, an electro-magnetic circuit-controlling device in a circuit controlled by the other circuit breaker, and an electric instrument in a circuit controlled by said device.

(3. In combination, an electro-magn'et including a reciprocating armature, a makeand-break appliance in the magnet circuit of which the armature is the actuative part, two circuit-breakers intermittently and separately operated by the armature movement, arelay connected in a circuit controlled by one of said circuit-breakers, and controlling the magnet circuit, an electro-magnetic circuit controlling device in a circuit controlled by the other circuit-breaker, conductive means which connect said device when energized, in the circuit of the said electro magnet to continue its energized condition after its circuit breaker has again broken the circuit it controls, and an electric instrument in a circuit controlled by said device.

7. In combination, an electro-magnet including a reciprocating armature, a makeand-break appliance in the magnet-circuit, of which the armature is the actuative part, two circuit-breakers, a member actuated by the armature movement to intermittently and separately operate the circuit breaker, a relay connected in a circuit controlled by one of said circui -'breakers, and controlling the magnet-circuit, an electro-magnetic circuit controlling device in a circuit controlled by the other circuit-breaker, and an electric instrument in a circuit controlled by said device, the said member, and a conductive part of one of the said circuit breakers, engaged thereby, being connected in a circuit to complete the magnet circuit outside the relay after the relay has been reenergized by the actionof the last-mentioned circuit breaker.

8. In combination, a relay in a normally closed circuit, an electric device in a circuit, and a cyclic electro-magnetic instrument in a circuit controlled by the relay, which closes the circuit of said device during a predetermined period, the said instrument including circuit-controlling means which discontinue the operation of the said device, during the completion of the cyclic operation of the instrument after the circuit in which the instrument is'connected has been opened and reclosed.

9. In combination, an electric device in a circuit and a cyclic electro-magnetic instrument which closes the circuit of said device during a predetermined period, the said instrument including circuit-controlling means which discontinue the operation of the said device, during the completion of the cyclic operation of the instrument after the circuit in which the instrument is connected has been opened and reclosed.

10. An electro-magnet including a reciprocating armature, a rotary, spring-actuated element having a contact-member in the magnet circuit and normally separating the armature from the magnet-core, and a resilient stop limiting the movement of the armature by action of the said element.

11. In a relay instrument an electro-magnet, a make and break appliance in the magnet circuit, a circuit-breaker, a sprocketwheel, a pallet on the magnet-armature in actuative engagement with the sprocketwheel, and transmission mechanism periodically operating the circuit-breaker by intermittent rotation of the sprocket-wheel.

12. In a relay instrument, an electro-magnet, a make and break appliance in the magnet-circuit, a circuit-breaker, a sprocketwheel, a pallet on the magnet-armature having two points which alternately engage the teeth of the sprocket-Wheel during the armature-movement, and transmission mechanism periodically operating the circuit-breaker by intermittent rotation of the sprocket-wheel.

13. In a relay instrument, an electro-magnet, a make and break appliance in the magnet-circuit, a circuit-breaker, a sprocketwheel, a pallet on the magnet-armature in actuative engagement with the sprocketwheel, a gear-wheel, a member rotating with the gear-wheel and intermittently operating the circuit-breaker, and a pinion rotating with the sprocket-wheel, in operative engagement with the gear-wheel.

14. In a relay instrument, an electro-magnet, a make and break appliance in the magnet-circuit, a circuit-breaker, a sprocketwheel, a pallet on the magnet-armature in actuative engagement with the sprocketwheel, a gear-wheel, a member rotating with the gear-wheel and intermittently operating the circuit-breaker, and a segmental pinion rotating with the sprocket-wheel, in operative engagement with the gear-wheel.

15. In a relay instrument, an electromagnet, a make-and-break appliance in the magnet-circuit, a circuit breaker intermittently operated by movement of the magnetarmature, and an electro-magnetic circuitcontrolling device in a circuit controlled 'by said circuit-breaker and including a stationary contact-member and a movable member carrying two insulated contact-brushes for simultaneous engagement with the stationary member.

16. In a relay instrument, an electro-magnet, a make-and-break appliance in the magnet circuit, two circuit-breakers intermittently and separately operated by movement of the magnet-armature, and an elecsignature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLL C. NEAHR.

Vitnesses:

G. J. ROLLANDET, L. RHOADES. 

